Seam

Analysis · No. 2

What government talks about, and who is doing the talking.

Every announcement, policy paper and consultation since the July 2024 election, sorted into 24 issues and weighted by who said it.

Seam analysis by Matt Bevington (how to cite) · first published 2 October 2026, refreshed every week · Data to the end of October 2026, and to 1 November 2026 for the prime-minister section · How we did this

24,960documents since July 2024
445public bodies publishing
5%of documents come from No 10
15%of the weighted attention

Most of what appears on GOV.UK is routine: tribunal rulings, safety notices, letters. So we weight each document by who published it and what kind of document it is. A No 10 statement to Parliament counts 24. A ruling on a company name counts a quarter. How the weighting works is at the end.

Keir Starmer and Andy Burnham

Keir Starmer was prime minister for 106 weeks of this record, Andy Burnham for 15 so far. Under Burnham, government as a whole gives more of its attention to the Budget, prisons and courts and housing and less to the Middle East, growth and immigration. Each of these moved the same way against Starmer’s whole time and against the same weeks of 2025, and they are listed by the size of the change against the same weeks. The bigger shift is in No 10 itself. Under Starmer, No 10’s own output led on Ukraine, growth and defence. Under Burnham, it leads on Ukraine, housing and transport.

208 → 188documents a week, all government
10 → 10No 10 documents a week
14% → 17%No 10’s share of the weighted attention (14% in the same weeks of 2025)
154No 10 documents under Burnham so far

What government talks about, under each prime minister

Each issue’s share of weighted attention across all of government: Keir Starmer from 5 July 2024 to 19 July 2026, Andy Burnham from 20 July 2026 to 1 November 2026. Sorted by the change, in percentage points.

  • Keir Starmer
  • Andy Burnham: bigger share
  • smaller share
  • Tax, spending and the Budget+2.5
  • Prisons, courts and justice+1.2
  • Science and research+1.3
  • Cost of living+0.9
  • Defence and armed forces+0.9
  • Policing and crime+0.6
  • Housing and planning+0.6
  • Skills, universities and apprenticeships+0.6
  • Social care+0.4
  • Transport+0.2
  • NHS and health0.0
  • Ukraine and Russia+0.1
  • AI and technology−0.1
  • Farming and food−0.2
  • Overseas aid and development−0.2
  • Energy and net zero−0.3
  • Water and environment−0.4
  • Schools and childcare−0.3
  • Devolution and local government−0.3
  • Immigration and borders−0.4
  • Welfare, work and pensions−0.5
  • Trade and exports−0.8
  • Economy and growth−1.0
  • Middle East−1.6
0%5%10%

Andy Burnham’s weeks so far include the summer recess, when the mix always shifts. So the table also gives Keir Starmer’s figure for the same weeks of 2025. The last column compares against that. Treat changes under half a point as noise.

Show the numbers
IssueKeir Starmer, whole timeKeir Starmer, same weeks of 2025Andy BurnhamChange on whole time, pointsChange on same weeks, points
Tax, spending and the Budget3.3%2.1%5.8%+2.5+3.7
Prisons, courts and justice3.4%3.1%4.7%+1.2+1.5
Science and research3.2%3.3%4.5%+1.3+1.2
Cost of living1.5%1.7%2.4%+0.9+0.7
Defence and armed forces6.3%6.5%7.1%+0.9+0.7
Policing and crime3.4%2.8%4.0%+0.6+1.2
Housing and planning3.3%2.7%3.9%+0.6+1.3
Skills, universities and apprenticeships2.4%2.9%2.9%+0.60.0
Social care0.9%0.7%1.3%+0.4+0.7
Transport4.7%3.8%5.0%+0.2+1.1
NHS and health3.9%3.9%4.0%0.00.0
Ukraine and Russia4.0%4.2%4.1%+0.1−0.1
AI and technology3.6%3.5%3.5%−0.10.0
Farming and food2.0%1.4%1.8%−0.2+0.4
Overseas aid and development1.6%1.6%1.4%−0.2−0.1
Energy and net zero4.1%4.4%3.8%−0.3−0.6
Water and environment2.2%2.0%1.9%−0.4−0.2
Schools and childcare2.2%2.4%1.9%−0.3−0.5
Devolution and local government2.9%2.1%2.5%−0.3+0.5
Immigration and borders2.2%2.9%1.8%−0.4−1.1
Welfare, work and pensions4.7%5.0%4.3%−0.5−0.7
Trade and exports1.9%2.1%1.1%−0.8−1.1
Economy and growth8.5%9.4%7.5%−1.0−1.9
Middle East3.5%5.4%1.9%−1.6−3.4

What each prime minister’s own office talks about

The ten issues taking the biggest share of No 10’s weighted output under each prime minister. Same scale on both sides.

Keir Starmer · 1,107 documents

  • Ukraine and Russia9%
  • Economy and growth8%
  • Defence and armed forces8%
  • Middle East7%
  • Immigration and borders2%
  • Welfare, work and pensions2%
  • Energy and net zero2%
  • NHS and health2%
  • Trade and exports2%
  • Policing and crime2%

Andy Burnham · 154 documents so far

  • Ukraine and Russia9%
  • Housing and planning6%
  • Transport6%
  • Economy and growth5%
  • Cost of living5%
  • Skills, universities and apprenticeships4%
  • Science and research4%
  • Defence and armed forces4%
  • AI and technology3%
  • Devolution and local government3%

Andy Burnham’s column rests on 154 documents, so a handful of announcements can move an issue by a point or two. It will become steadier as the weeks add up. We update this section every week.

Show the numbers
IssueKeir StarmerAndy Burnham
Ukraine and Russia9.4%9.2%
Housing and planning0.6%5.5%
Transport0.9%5.5%
Economy and growth7.7%4.8%
Cost of living1.4%4.8%
Skills, universities and apprenticeships1.4%4.2%
Science and research0.4%4.2%
Defence and armed forces7.7%3.8%
AI and technology1.4%3.0%
Devolution and local government0.9%3.0%
Social care0.1%2.4%
Energy and net zero2.0%2.4%
NHS and health1.7%1.8%
Policing and crime1.5%1.8%
Prisons, courts and justice0.6%1.8%
Welfare, work and pensions2.4%1.8%
Tax, spending and the Budget0.2%1.2%
Immigration and borders2.4%0.6%
Water and environment0.1%0.6%
Farming and food0.1%0.6%
Schools and childcare0.4%0.6%
Middle East6.8%0.0%
Trade and exports1.6%0.0%
Overseas aid and development0.5%0.0%

The handover itself

GOV.UK began labelling papers “2026 Burnham Labour government” on 20 July 2026. Since then the Budget and prisons and courts have gained most. Set against the same weeks a year earlier, to allow for the summer, the Budget, prisons and courts and science stand out. No 10 has published about 10 documents a week, about the same pace as the 10 a week before.

The 15 weeks either side of the handover

Each issue’s share of weighted attention in the 15 weeks before 20 July 2026 and the 15 weeks after. Sorted by the change, in percentage points.

  • Last 15 weeks under Starmer
  • First 15 weeks under Burnham: up
  • down
  • Tax, spending and the Budget+2.7
  • Prisons, courts and justice+1.6
  • Science and research+1.4
  • Cost of living+1.0
  • Policing and crime+0.7
  • Housing and planning+0.5
  • Energy and net zero+0.5
  • Economy and growth+0.4
  • Transport+0.4
  • Ukraine and Russia+0.4
  • Defence and armed forces+0.3
  • Farming and food+0.2
  • Social care0.0
  • Skills, universities and apprenticeships0.0
  • NHS and health−0.1
  • Immigration and borders−0.1
  • Devolution and local government−0.2
  • AI and technology−0.4
  • Overseas aid and development−0.4
  • Schools and childcare−0.5
  • Middle East−0.6
  • Trade and exports−0.9
  • Welfare, work and pensions−0.9
  • Water and environment−1.0
0%4%8%

The second period includes the summer recess, which changes the mix every year. The table sets each change against the same weeks of 2025. The last column shows what is left once the summer is allowed for.

Show the numbers
IssueBeforeAfterChange, pointsSame weeks, 2025Allowing for summer
Tax, spending and the Budget3.1%5.8%+2.7−0.9+3.6
Prisons, courts and justice3.1%4.7%+1.6−0.6+2.1
Science and research3.1%4.5%+1.4−0.3+1.8
Cost of living1.4%2.4%+1.0+0.2+0.7
Policing and crime3.3%4.0%+0.7−0.6+1.2
Housing and planning3.4%3.9%+0.5−0.7+1.2
Energy and net zero3.3%3.8%+0.5+0.1+0.5
Economy and growth7.1%7.5%+0.4−0.9+1.3
Transport4.6%5.0%+0.4−0.8+1.1
Ukraine and Russia3.7%4.1%+0.4+0.6−0.2
Defence and armed forces6.8%7.1%+0.30.0+0.4
Farming and food1.6%1.8%+0.2−0.3+0.5
Social care1.3%1.3%0.0−0.3+0.4
Skills, universities and apprenticeships2.9%2.9%0.0+0.9−0.9
NHS and health4.1%4.0%−0.1−0.10.0
Immigration and borders1.9%1.8%−0.1+0.9−0.9
Devolution and local government2.7%2.5%−0.2−0.5+0.2
AI and technology3.9%3.5%−0.4+0.4−0.8
Overseas aid and development1.8%1.4%−0.4+0.4−0.8
Schools and childcare2.4%1.9%−0.50.0−0.4
Middle East2.5%1.9%−0.6+2.2−2.8
Trade and exports2.0%1.1%−0.9−0.2−0.7
Welfare, work and pensions5.2%4.3%−0.9−0.4−0.5
Water and environment2.9%1.9%−1.0−0.4−0.6

What government talks about

Over the whole period, growth, defence and transport get the most weighted attention. Weighting matters most for schools. It has lots of documents, but few come from ministers.

What government talks about, counted two ways

Each issue’s share of all documents published since 5 July 2024, before and after weighting. Sorted by weighted share.

  • Share of documents
  • Weighted share: senior voices
  • Weighted share: mostly routine
  • Economy and growth8.4%
  • Defence and armed forces6.4%
  • Transport4.8%
  • Welfare, work and pensions4.7%
  • Energy and net zero4.1%
  • Ukraine and Russia4.0%
  • NHS and health3.9%
  • AI and technology3.6%
  • Tax, spending and the Budget3.6%
  • Prisons, courts and justice3.6%
  • Policing and crime3.5%
  • Housing and planning3.4%
  • Middle East3.4%
  • Science and research3.3%
  • Devolution and local government2.8%
  • Skills, universities and apprenticeships2.4%
  • Water and environment2.2%
  • Schools and childcare2.2%
  • Immigration and borders2.1%
  • Farming and food2.0%
  • Trade and exports1.8%
  • Overseas aid and development1.6%
  • Cost of living1.6%
  • Social care1.0%
0%5%10%

A document can touch more than one issue, so the shares add up to more than 100%. About 42% of documents touch none of the 24 issues: appointments, statistics notices, company name rulings and the like.

Show the numbers
IssueShare of documentsWeighted share
Economy and growth6.1%8.4%
Defence and armed forces5.3%6.4%
Transport4.4%4.8%
Welfare, work and pensions3.7%4.7%
Energy and net zero5.2%4.1%
Ukraine and Russia3.1%4.0%
NHS and health4.4%3.9%
AI and technology2.8%3.6%
Tax, spending and the Budget2.9%3.6%
Prisons, courts and justice3.2%3.6%
Policing and crime3.0%3.5%
Housing and planning4.4%3.4%
Middle East2.5%3.4%
Science and research3.8%3.3%
Devolution and local government3.5%2.8%
Skills, universities and apprenticeships3.0%2.4%
Water and environment2.7%2.2%
Schools and childcare6.1%2.2%
Immigration and borders1.5%2.1%
Farming and food1.9%2.0%
Trade and exports1.5%1.8%
Overseas aid and development1.6%1.6%
Cost of living1.3%1.6%
Social care0.8%1.0%

The issues, quarter by quarter

Each issue’s share of weighted attention in each quarter, in per cent. The shading works row by row. The darkest cell is that issue’s loudest quarter and the palest is its quietest. Hover over a cell for the detail.

  • Quietest quarter for the issue
  • Loudest quarter
Jul–Sep2024Oct–Dec2024Jan–Mar2025Apr–Jun2025Jul–Sep2025Oct–Dec2025Jan–Mar2026Apr–Jun2026Jul–Sep2026
Economy and growth6.59.010.610.98.67.97.16.17.9
Defence and armed forces7.75.85.77.15.95.85.87.16.7
Transport4.24.84.94.44.24.85.75.14.9
Welfare, work and pensions2.54.23.55.74.85.65.55.14.8
Energy and net zero4.14.63.84.34.35.33.73.43.4
Ukraine and Russia5.23.65.23.83.84.03.23.64.0
NHS and health2.94.33.43.84.43.54.64.43.5
AI and technology2.13.04.63.43.23.44.84.62.9
Tax, spending and the Budget1.35.62.53.71.85.52.32.73.0
Prisons, courts and justice3.73.24.03.93.33.03.43.13.8
Policing and crime2.93.04.73.62.54.13.23.54.3
Housing and planning3.42.83.12.73.24.03.93.44.0
Middle East4.53.63.23.64.92.14.63.01.9
Science and research3.03.22.63.63.43.43.23.53.4
Devolution and local government1.53.22.12.32.23.64.52.43.2
Skills, universities and apprenticeships2.32.21.72.22.72.22.62.92.8
Water and environment2.31.92.02.41.92.71.73.12.0
Schools and childcare2.11.91.82.62.22.02.62.42.1
Immigration and borders2.22.12.82.02.42.41.72.01.7
Farming and food2.42.32.21.51.81.72.61.72.0
Trade and exports1.91.51.32.71.72.71.61.81.4
Overseas aid and development2.01.61.81.41.51.81.31.81.6
Cost of living1.10.81.01.41.71.62.71.72.2
Social care0.61.10.71.00.90.81.00.91.7
Documents in the quarter2,1492,9072,6822,6022,6522,9292,8042,6492,540

The first quarter starts on 5 July 2024, the day after the general election. Read along a row, not down a column. A pale cell for a big issue can still hold a larger number than a dark cell for a small one.

What is rising and what is fading

The cost of living, devolution, social care and housing take a bigger share than in the government’s first year. Growth, the Middle East and immigration take less.

What is getting louder, and what is fading

Change in each issue’s share of weighted attention, from the government’s first year (Jul 2024–Jun 2025) to the latest twelve months (Nov 2025–Oct 2026).

  • Bigger share than in the first year
  • Smaller share
  • Cost of living+95%
  • Devolution and local government+45%
  • Social care+37%
  • Housing and planning+30%
  • Welfare, work and pensions+27%
  • Skills, universities and apprenticeships+26%
  • Tax, spending and the Budget+24%
  • AI and technology+17%
  • Science and research+14%
  • NHS and health+12%
  • Transport+11%
  • Water and environment+5%
  • Schools and childcare+5%
  • Policing and crime0%
  • Defence and armed forces−2%
  • Prisons, courts and justice−3%
  • Farming and food−4%
  • Overseas aid and development−4%
  • Trade and exports−6%
  • Energy and net zero−7%
  • Ukraine and Russia−16%
  • Immigration and borders−21%
  • Middle East−25%
  • Economy and growth−26%
−100%no change+100%

The two periods overlap by three months. Bars stop at 100% either way. Small issues move on small numbers: social care is about one document in a hundred.

Show the numbers
IssueFirst yearLatest 12 monthsChange
Cost of living1.1%2.1%+95%
Devolution and local government2.4%3.4%+45%
Social care0.9%1.2%+37%
Housing and planning3.0%3.8%+30%
Welfare, work and pensions4.1%5.2%+27%
Skills, universities and apprenticeships2.1%2.6%+26%
Tax, spending and the Budget3.5%4.3%+24%
AI and technology3.4%4.0%+17%
Science and research3.1%3.6%+14%
NHS and health3.7%4.1%+12%
Transport4.6%5.1%+11%
Water and environment2.1%2.2%+5%
Schools and childcare2.1%2.2%+5%
Policing and crime3.6%3.6%0%
Defence and armed forces6.5%6.4%−2%
Prisons, courts and justice3.7%3.6%−3%
Farming and food2.1%2.0%−4%
Overseas aid and development1.7%1.6%−4%
Trade and exports1.8%1.7%−6%
Energy and net zero4.2%3.9%−7%
Ukraine and Russia4.4%3.7%−16%
Immigration and borders2.3%1.8%−21%
Middle East3.7%2.8%−25%
Economy and growth9.5%7.0%−26%

Month by month: the six biggest risers and fallers

Share of weighted attention, as a three-month average so one busy week does not skew the line. Each panel has its own scale. The figures above each line are the averages for the first year and the latest twelve months. Hover over the line to see a month.

  • Rising
  • Fading

Cost of living

1.1% → 2.1%

Three months to September 2024: 1.1%Three months to October 2024: 0.8%Three months to November 2024: 0.8%Three months to December 2024: 0.8%Three months to January 2025: 0.6%Three months to February 2025: 0.8%Three months to March 2025: 1.0%Three months to April 2025: 1.3%Three months to May 2025: 1.4%Three months to June 2025: 1.4%Three months to July 2025: 1.5%Three months to August 2025: 1.8%Three months to September 2025: 1.7%Three months to October 2025: 1.7%Three months to November 2025: 1.5%Three months to December 2025: 1.6%Three months to January 2026: 1.9%Three months to February 2026: 2.1%Three months to March 2026: 2.7%Three months to April 2026: 2.6%Three months to May 2026: 2.5%Three months to June 2026: 1.7%Three months to July 2026: 1.5%Three months to August 2026: 1.9%Three months to September 2026: 2.2%Three months to October 2026: 2.2%Sep 24Oct 26

Devolution and local government

2.4% → 3.4%

Three months to September 2024: 1.5%Three months to October 2024: 1.7%Three months to November 2024: 2.3%Three months to December 2024: 3.2%Three months to January 2025: 3.0%Three months to February 2025: 3.2%Three months to March 2025: 2.1%Three months to April 2025: 2.5%Three months to May 2025: 1.8%Three months to June 2025: 2.3%Three months to July 2025: 2.4%Three months to August 2025: 2.6%Three months to September 2025: 2.2%Three months to October 2025: 1.9%Three months to November 2025: 3.2%Three months to December 2025: 3.6%Three months to January 2026: 3.4%Three months to February 2026: 4.4%Three months to March 2026: 4.5%Three months to April 2026: 4.9%Three months to May 2026: 3.3%Three months to June 2026: 2.4%Three months to July 2026: 2.7%Three months to August 2026: 2.9%Three months to September 2026: 3.2%Three months to October 2026: 2.6%Sep 24Oct 26

Social care

0.9% → 1.2%

Three months to September 2024: 0.6%Three months to October 2024: 0.8%Three months to November 2024: 1.1%Three months to December 2024: 1.1%Three months to January 2025: 1.0%Three months to February 2025: 0.6%Three months to March 2025: 0.7%Three months to April 2025: 0.7%Three months to May 2025: 1.1%Three months to June 2025: 1.0%Three months to July 2025: 1.1%Three months to August 2025: 0.9%Three months to September 2025: 0.9%Three months to October 2025: 0.6%Three months to November 2025: 0.7%Three months to December 2025: 0.8%Three months to January 2026: 1.0%Three months to February 2026: 1.1%Three months to March 2026: 1.0%Three months to April 2026: 1.2%Three months to May 2026: 1.0%Three months to June 2026: 0.9%Three months to July 2026: 1.5%Three months to August 2026: 1.5%Three months to September 2026: 1.7%Three months to October 2026: 1.1%Sep 24Oct 26

Housing and planning

3.0% → 3.8%

Three months to September 2024: 3.4%Three months to October 2024: 3.0%Three months to November 2024: 2.8%Three months to December 2024: 2.8%Three months to January 2025: 2.7%Three months to February 2025: 3.4%Three months to March 2025: 3.1%Three months to April 2025: 3.1%Three months to May 2025: 2.6%Three months to June 2025: 2.7%Three months to July 2025: 3.2%Three months to August 2025: 3.1%Three months to September 2025: 3.2%Three months to October 2025: 2.9%Three months to November 2025: 3.4%Three months to December 2025: 4.0%Three months to January 2026: 4.4%Three months to February 2026: 4.0%Three months to March 2026: 3.9%Three months to April 2026: 3.7%Three months to May 2026: 3.8%Three months to June 2026: 3.4%Three months to July 2026: 3.4%Three months to August 2026: 4.1%Three months to September 2026: 4.0%Three months to October 2026: 4.0%Sep 24Oct 26

Welfare, work and pensions

4.1% → 5.2%

Three months to September 2024: 2.5%Three months to October 2024: 3.4%Three months to November 2024: 4.1%Three months to December 2024: 4.2%Three months to January 2025: 3.8%Three months to February 2025: 3.1%Three months to March 2025: 3.5%Three months to April 2025: 3.8%Three months to May 2025: 5.0%Three months to June 2025: 5.7%Three months to July 2025: 5.8%Three months to August 2025: 5.4%Three months to September 2025: 4.8%Three months to October 2025: 5.1%Three months to November 2025: 4.8%Three months to December 2025: 5.6%Three months to January 2026: 6.0%Three months to February 2026: 6.7%Three months to March 2026: 5.5%Three months to April 2026: 5.1%Three months to May 2026: 4.5%Three months to June 2026: 5.1%Three months to July 2026: 4.9%Three months to August 2026: 5.1%Three months to September 2026: 4.8%Three months to October 2026: 4.7%Sep 24Oct 26

Skills, universities and apprenticeships

2.1% → 2.6%

Three months to September 2024: 2.3%Three months to October 2024: 2.3%Three months to November 2024: 2.4%Three months to December 2024: 2.2%Three months to January 2025: 1.9%Three months to February 2025: 1.7%Three months to March 2025: 1.7%Three months to April 2025: 2.0%Three months to May 2025: 1.8%Three months to June 2025: 2.2%Three months to July 2025: 2.0%Three months to August 2025: 2.2%Three months to September 2025: 2.7%Three months to October 2025: 3.3%Three months to November 2025: 2.9%Three months to December 2025: 2.2%Three months to January 2026: 2.0%Three months to February 2026: 2.2%Three months to March 2026: 2.6%Three months to April 2026: 2.7%Three months to May 2026: 2.7%Three months to June 2026: 2.9%Three months to July 2026: 2.9%Three months to August 2026: 3.2%Three months to September 2026: 2.8%Three months to October 2026: 3.0%Sep 24Oct 26

Economy and growth

9.5% → 7.0%

Three months to September 2024: 6.5%Three months to October 2024: 8.3%Three months to November 2024: 8.7%Three months to December 2024: 9.0%Three months to January 2025: 8.2%Three months to February 2025: 9.4%Three months to March 2025: 10.6%Three months to April 2025: 10.8%Three months to May 2025: 11.1%Three months to June 2025: 10.9%Three months to July 2025: 10.3%Three months to August 2025: 9.0%Three months to September 2025: 8.6%Three months to October 2025: 9.9%Three months to November 2025: 9.9%Three months to December 2025: 7.9%Three months to January 2026: 7.5%Three months to February 2026: 6.4%Three months to March 2026: 7.1%Three months to April 2026: 5.6%Three months to May 2026: 5.6%Three months to June 2026: 6.1%Three months to July 2026: 7.5%Three months to August 2026: 7.8%Three months to September 2026: 7.9%Three months to October 2026: 7.6%Sep 24Oct 26

Middle East

3.7% → 2.8%

Three months to September 2024: 4.5%Three months to October 2024: 5.5%Three months to November 2024: 4.1%Three months to December 2024: 3.6%Three months to January 2025: 3.4%Three months to February 2025: 3.4%Three months to March 2025: 3.2%Three months to April 2025: 2.5%Three months to May 2025: 3.4%Three months to June 2025: 3.6%Three months to July 2025: 3.7%Three months to August 2025: 4.2%Three months to September 2025: 4.9%Three months to October 2025: 4.9%Three months to November 2025: 3.2%Three months to December 2025: 2.1%Three months to January 2026: 1.9%Three months to February 2026: 2.1%Three months to March 2026: 4.6%Three months to April 2026: 4.9%Three months to May 2026: 5.0%Three months to June 2026: 3.0%Three months to July 2026: 2.0%Three months to August 2026: 2.1%Three months to September 2026: 1.9%Three months to October 2026: 2.1%Sep 24Oct 26

Immigration and borders

2.3% → 1.8%

Three months to September 2024: 2.2%Three months to October 2024: 1.9%Three months to November 2024: 2.3%Three months to December 2024: 2.1%Three months to January 2025: 2.8%Three months to February 2025: 2.5%Three months to March 2025: 2.8%Three months to April 2025: 2.0%Three months to May 2025: 2.6%Three months to June 2025: 2.0%Three months to July 2025: 2.3%Three months to August 2025: 2.3%Three months to September 2025: 2.4%Three months to October 2025: 3.0%Three months to November 2025: 2.5%Three months to December 2025: 2.4%Three months to January 2026: 1.7%Three months to February 2026: 1.6%Three months to March 2026: 1.7%Three months to April 2026: 1.6%Three months to May 2026: 1.4%Three months to June 2026: 2.0%Three months to July 2026: 2.1%Three months to August 2026: 2.4%Three months to September 2026: 1.7%Three months to October 2026: 1.9%Sep 24Oct 26

Ukraine and Russia

4.4% → 3.7%

Three months to September 2024: 5.2%Three months to October 2024: 3.9%Three months to November 2024: 4.1%Three months to December 2024: 3.6%Three months to January 2025: 3.8%Three months to February 2025: 4.6%Three months to March 2025: 5.2%Three months to April 2025: 5.4%Three months to May 2025: 5.0%Three months to June 2025: 3.8%Three months to July 2025: 3.4%Three months to August 2025: 3.2%Three months to September 2025: 3.8%Three months to October 2025: 4.6%Three months to November 2025: 4.2%Three months to December 2025: 4.0%Three months to January 2026: 3.6%Three months to February 2026: 3.7%Three months to March 2026: 3.2%Three months to April 2026: 3.0%Three months to May 2026: 3.1%Three months to June 2026: 3.6%Three months to July 2026: 4.0%Three months to August 2026: 4.2%Three months to September 2026: 4.0%Three months to October 2026: 4.2%Sep 24Oct 26

Energy and net zero

4.2% → 3.9%

Three months to September 2024: 4.1%Three months to October 2024: 3.9%Three months to November 2024: 4.8%Three months to December 2024: 4.6%Three months to January 2025: 4.5%Three months to February 2025: 3.5%Three months to March 2025: 3.8%Three months to April 2025: 4.1%Three months to May 2025: 4.2%Three months to June 2025: 4.3%Three months to July 2025: 4.4%Three months to August 2025: 4.9%Three months to September 2025: 4.3%Three months to October 2025: 4.3%Three months to November 2025: 5.3%Three months to December 2025: 5.3%Three months to January 2026: 4.9%Three months to February 2026: 3.8%Three months to March 2026: 3.7%Three months to April 2026: 3.5%Three months to May 2026: 3.0%Three months to June 2026: 3.4%Three months to July 2026: 3.3%Three months to August 2026: 3.7%Three months to September 2026: 3.4%Three months to October 2026: 3.8%Sep 24Oct 26

Trade and exports

1.8% → 1.7%

Three months to September 2024: 1.9%Three months to October 2024: 2.0%Three months to November 2024: 2.0%Three months to December 2024: 1.5%Three months to January 2025: 1.5%Three months to February 2025: 1.3%Three months to March 2025: 1.3%Three months to April 2025: 1.4%Three months to May 2025: 2.3%Three months to June 2025: 2.7%Three months to July 2025: 2.7%Three months to August 2025: 2.0%Three months to September 2025: 1.7%Three months to October 2025: 2.1%Three months to November 2025: 2.2%Three months to December 2025: 2.7%Three months to January 2026: 2.3%Three months to February 2026: 2.0%Three months to March 2026: 1.6%Three months to April 2026: 1.4%Three months to May 2026: 1.9%Three months to June 2026: 1.8%Three months to July 2026: 2.0%Three months to August 2026: 1.5%Three months to September 2026: 1.4%Three months to October 2026: 1.1%Sep 24Oct 26

How much government publishes each month

Announcements, policy papers and consultations, July 2024 to October 2026. Hover over a bar to see the month.

Documents published each month, July 2024 to October 202604008001,200July 2024: 678 documents; No 10 carried 32.1% of the weighted attentionJul 2024August 2024: 603 documents; No 10 carried 20.5% of the weighted attentionSeptember 2024: 868 documents; No 10 carried 15.8% of the weighted attentionOctober 2024: 1,010 documents; No 10 carried 13.6% of the weighted attentionNovember 2024: 1,024 documents; No 10 carried 15.8% of the weighted attentionDecember 2024: 873 documents; No 10 carried 17.1% of the weighted attentionJanuary 2025: 880 documents; No 10 carried 12.9% of the weighted attention2025February 2025: 788 documents; No 10 carried 14.7% of the weighted attentionMarch 2025: 1,014 documents; No 10 carried 16.1% of the weighted attentionApril 2025: 856 documents; No 10 carried 13.8% of the weighted attentionMay 2025: 778 documents; No 10 carried 15.4% of the weighted attentionJune 2025: 968 documents; No 10 carried 16.9% of the weighted attentionJuly 2025: 1,168 documents; No 10 carried 14.4% of the weighted attentionAugust 2025: 627 documents; No 10 carried 12.4% of the weighted attentionSeptember 2025: 857 documents; No 10 carried 13.4% of the weighted attentionOctober 2025: 980 documents; No 10 carried 14.8% of the weighted attentionNovember 2025: 1,012 documents; No 10 carried 7.8% of the weighted attentionDecember 2025: 937 documents; No 10 carried 9.7% of the weighted attentionJanuary 2026: 786 documents; No 10 carried 15.7% of the weighted attention2026February 2026: 831 documents; No 10 carried 11.1% of the weighted attentionMarch 2026: 1,187 documents; No 10 carried 13.3% of the weighted attentionApril 2026: 797 documents; No 10 carried 15.3% of the weighted attentionMay 2026: 779 documents; No 10 carried 14.8% of the weighted attentionJune 2026: 1,073 documents; No 10 carried 13.2% of the weighted attentionJuly 2026: 1,181 documents; No 10 carried 18.3% of the weighted attentionAugust 2026: 536 documents; No 10 carried 20.2% of the weighted attentionSeptember 2026: 823 documents; No 10 carried 11.2% of the weighted attentionOctober 2026: 1,046 documents; No 10 carried 12.4% of the weighted attention20 July 2026: Burnham government

The dips are Parliament’s summer recess. The quietest month was August 2026. The rest of this page uses shares, not counts, so a quiet August does not make every issue look as if it faded.

Show the numbers
MonthDocumentsNo 10 share of weighted attention
July 202467832.1%
August 202460320.5%
September 202486815.8%
October 20241,01013.6%
November 20241,02415.8%
December 202487317.1%
January 202588012.9%
February 202578814.7%
March 20251,01416.1%
April 202585613.8%
May 202577815.4%
June 202596816.9%
July 20251,16814.4%
August 202562712.4%
September 202585713.4%
October 202598014.8%
November 20251,0127.8%
December 20259379.7%
January 202678615.7%
February 202683111.1%
March 20261,18713.3%
April 202679715.3%
May 202677914.8%
June 20261,07313.2%
July 20261,18118.3%
August 202653620.2%
September 202682311.2%
October 20261,04612.4%

No 10 and the rest of government

The Prime Minister’s office spends a far bigger share of its output on Ukraine and the Middle East than departments do, and very little on water, farming and the Budget.

What No 10 talks about, against everyone else

Each issue’s share of No 10’s own weighted output since July 2024, against its share of everything the rest of government published. Sorted by No 10’s share.

  • No 10
  • The rest of government
  • Ukraine and Russia9.4%
  • Economy and growth7.4%
  • Defence and armed forces7.2%
  • Middle East6.0%
  • Welfare, work and pensions2.3%
  • Immigration and borders2.2%
  • Energy and net zero2.0%
  • Cost of living1.8%
  • NHS and health1.7%
  • Skills, universities and apprenticeships1.7%
  • Policing and crime1.6%
  • AI and technology1.6%
  • Transport1.4%
  • Trade and exports1.4%
  • Housing and planning1.2%
  • Devolution and local government1.2%
  • Science and research0.9%
  • Prisons, courts and justice0.7%
  • Social care0.4%
  • Schools and childcare0.4%
  • Overseas aid and development0.4%
  • Tax, spending and the Budget0.3%
  • Water and environment0.1%
  • Farming and food0.1%
0%5%10%

No 10 published 1,261 documents in the period. About 45% are read-outs of the Prime Minister’s calls, meetings, visits and press conferences. That is why foreign affairs take such a big share.

Show the numbers
IssueNo 10Rest of government
Ukraine and Russia9.4%3.1%
Economy and growth7.4%8.5%
Defence and armed forces7.2%6.2%
Middle East6.0%2.9%
Welfare, work and pensions2.3%5.1%
Immigration and borders2.2%2.1%
Energy and net zero2.0%4.5%
Cost of living1.8%1.6%
NHS and health1.7%4.3%
Skills, universities and apprenticeships1.7%2.5%
Policing and crime1.6%3.8%
AI and technology1.6%4.0%
Transport1.4%5.3%
Trade and exports1.4%1.9%
Housing and planning1.2%3.8%
Devolution and local government1.2%3.1%
Science and research0.9%3.8%
Prisons, courts and justice0.7%4.0%
Social care0.4%1.1%
Schools and childcare0.4%2.5%
Overseas aid and development0.4%1.8%
Tax, spending and the Budget0.3%4.2%
Water and environment0.1%2.5%
Farming and food0.1%2.3%

Who publishes on each issue

Share of each issue’s documents by the most senior body publishing them. Sorted by how much comes from No 10 and ministerial departments together.

  • No 10
  • Ministerial departments
  • Non-ministerial departments
  • Agencies and other public bodies
  • Ukraine and Russia16%81%
  • Middle East12%80%
  • Overseas aid and development82%13%
  • Economy and growth74%15%
  • Immigration and borders68%23%
  • Social care72%9%17%
  • Trade and exports69%24%
  • Welfare, work and pensions70%11%16%
  • Defence and armed forces66%26%
  • Cost of living65%11%16%
  • AI and technology70%24%
  • Devolution and local government70%23%
  • Prisons, courts and justice66%28%
  • Policing and crime62%28%
  • Transport56%36%
  • Housing and planning53%41%
  • Farming and food52%9%39%
  • Skills, universities and apprenticeships46%10%41%
  • NHS and health46%48%
  • Energy and net zero45%48%
  • Science and research44%49%
  • Water and environment40%55%
  • Tax, spending and the Budget34%58%
  • Schools and childcare19%76%

Issues near the bottom are mostly the work of regulators, agencies and tribunals. Plenty is published on them, but little of it comes from a minister.

Show the numbers
IssueNo 10Ministerial departmentsNon-ministerial departmentsAgencies and other public bodiesDocuments
Ukraine and Russia16.2%80.8%0.5%2.5%767
Middle East12.0%80.1%2.3%5.7%619
Overseas aid and development1.6%81.7%3.9%12.9%387
Economy and growth6.4%73.7%4.9%15.1%1,525
Immigration and borders7.4%67.5%2.4%22.7%379
Social care2.0%72.2%8.6%17.2%198
Trade and exports5.0%68.8%1.8%24.3%382
Welfare, work and pensions3.5%69.8%11.0%15.7%917
Defence and armed forces7.2%65.9%0.5%26.4%1,312
Cost of living7.5%65.4%11.2%15.9%321
AI and technology2.7%69.8%3.6%23.9%696
Devolution and local government1.6%70.1%5.4%23.0%875
Prisons, courts and justice1.2%66.0%4.3%28.4%810
Policing and crime2.8%62.4%7.0%27.8%753
Transport1.8%55.6%6.2%36.4%1,103
Housing and planning1.4%53.0%4.4%41.2%1,091
Farming and food0.4%52.1%8.9%38.6%474
Skills, universities and apprenticeships3.1%46.5%9.5%40.9%750
NHS and health1.9%46.5%4.0%47.6%1,086
Energy and net zero2.1%45.1%4.4%48.4%1,308
Science and research1.2%43.9%6.0%49.0%941
Water and environment0.3%40.2%4.0%55.4%671
Tax, spending and the Budget0.6%34.2%58.3%6.9%725
Schools and childcare0.4%19.1%4.4%76.2%1,527

If you are trying to get government’s attention

  • Speak to the loud issues. Growth, defence and transport get the most senior airtime. If your work helps with one of them, say so in the first line of anything you send.
  • Watch what is rising. The cost of living, devolution, social care and housing have gained ground. New policy, money and consultations tend to follow there.
  • Know who owns your issue. On issues at the bottom of the “who publishes” chart, the regulator or agency matters more than the minister.

How we did this

Counting every document equally would say a ruling on a company name matters as much as the Prime Minister on his feet in the Commons. So we weight each document by who published it and what kind of document it is.

How much one document counts

Weight = who published it × what kind of document it is. Some examples.

  • No 10 statement to Parliament24
  • No 10 speech16
  • Department policy paper8
  • Department press release4
  • Diplomat at the UN, for a department2
  • Agency press release1
  • Agency decision or notice0.25

Who published it

No 10the Prime Minister's Office8
Ministerial departmentsthe Treasury, Home Office, DHSC and the rest4
Non-ministerial departmentsHMRC, the CMA, Ofsted, Ofgem and similar2
Agencies and other public bodiesagencies, arm’s-length bodies, tribunals1

What kind of document

Statement to Parliament3
Speech or written statement2
Policy paper or consultation2
Press release or news story1
Diplomats’ statements at the UN and similar0.5
Routine notice, decision or letter0.25

The weights are a judgement. The notes below show that changing them barely moves the ranking of issues.

Who does the publishing, and who carries the weight

Every document since 5 July 2024, by the most senior body that published it.

Share of documents

  • No 105%
  • Ministerial departments49%
  • Non-ministerial departments8%
  • Agencies and other public bodies38%

Share of weighted attention

  • No 1015%
  • Ministerial departments71%
  • Non-ministerial departments6%
  • Agencies and other public bodies8%

Agencies and other bodies publish 38% of all documents. Once each document is weighted, they carry 8% of the attention. No 10 publishes 5% and carries 15%.

Method and caveats

Data. Three GOV.UK sources: announcements (press releases, news stories, speeches, statements and the like), policy papers by the date first published, and consultations by the date they opened. Everything from 5 July 2024 to the end of October 2026: 24,960 documents after removing duplicates (21,872 announcements, 2,123 policy papers, 965 consultations). We leave out guidance and transparency releases. They are about running things, not about what government says it wants. We recalculate the figures every week. Charts built on months or quarters use whole months only, so they move on once a month. The section comparing the two prime ministers runs to the day before each refresh.

Issues are found by keyword in each document’s title and summary, after taking out the publisher’s own name (so “Department for Science, Innovation and Technology” does not count as a document about technology). A document can touch several issues. About 58% of documents touch at least one. Keyword matching misses things and catches a few it should not. The word lists are below.

Weights. Who published it: No 10 counts 8, a ministerial department 4, a non-ministerial department 2, anything else 1. A document published jointly takes its most senior publisher. What kind of document: a statement to Parliament counts 3. A speech, written statement, policy paper or consultation counts 2. A press release or news story counts 1. A statement by a UK diplomat at the UN or a similar body, or a story from an embassy, counts half. Anything routine (decisions, letters, safety alerts, case studies) counts a quarter. We multiply the two.

Does the weighting decide the answer? Less than you might think. Changing the scheme moves the ranking of issues only a little. With publisher only, the ranking correlates at 0.88 with ours, and 4 of the top five are the same. With document type only, the ranking correlates at 0.89 with ours, and 4 of the top five are the same. With No 10 counted as a department, the ranking correlates at 0.98 with ours, and 5 of the top five are the same. With routine notices counted at 1, the ranking correlates at 0.93 with ours, and 4 of the top five are the same. Unweighted counts correlate at 0.74. That is the difference the weighting makes.

Share of attention is the weight of documents touching an issue, as a share of the weight of everything published in the period. That total includes documents that touch no issue. We compare shares, not counts, over time, because the amount published swings with the parliamentary calendar.

Change over time compares the government’s first year (July 2024 to June 2025) with the latest twelve months. The new prime minister is dated from the first policy paper GOV.UK labels with the new government. Comparing with the same weeks a year earlier is a rough way to allow for the summer recess, not a precise one.

Not covered. What ministers say in Parliament, on broadcast or on social media. What the devolved governments publish on their own sites. GOV.UK is the government’s own record, so this measures what it chooses to announce, not what it achieves.

The issue word lists
IssueWords and phrases in the title or summary
Economy and growtheconom(y, ic growth), growth, investment, invest(s, ing, ed)? in, industrial strategy, productivity, jobs boost, new jobs, N jobs, plan for change
Tax, spending and the Budgetbudget, spending review, tax(es, ation, payers?)?, fiscal, borrowing, public finances, HMRC, VAT, national insurance
Cost of livingcost of living, cost-of-living, energy bills, bills, prices, living wage, minimum wage, household(s)? (save, budget), inflation, cheaper, afford
NHS and healthNHS, hospital, GPs?, waiting (list, time), patients?, health care, health (service, system, inequalit, checks?, and wellbeing), public health, A&E, doctors?, nurses?, midwi, cancer, mental health, dentist, vaccin, obesity, smoking, vap(e, ing), life expectancy, pharmac
Social caresocial care, care workers?, care homes?, carers?, adult care
Immigration and bordersmigra(nt, tion), asylum, small boats?, borders?, smuggl, visas?, illegal working, returns? deal, channel crossings
Policing and crimepolic(e, ing), crime, knife, violence against women, VAWG, antisocial, anti-social, fraud, terroris, grooming, shoplifting, drug(s)? gang
Prisons, courts and justiceprison, sentenc, courts?, probation, justice system, offenders?, jury, legal aid, victims?
Defence and armed forcesdefen[cs]e, armed forces, military, MOD, troops, army, royal navy, RAF, NATO, veterans?, warship, submarine, drones?
Ukraine and Russiaukrain, russia, putin, kremlin, kyiv
Middle Eastgaza, israel, palestin, middle east, iran, lebanon, syria, yemen, red sea, hostages?
Housing and planninghous(ing, ebuild, e building), new homes, homes, planning (reform, system, rules, permission, applications?, appeals?, and infrastructure, bill), planning), renters?, leasehold, landlords?, new towns?, grey belt, social rent, homeless, rough sleep
Energy and net zeronet zero, clean (power, energy), renewable, offshore wind, wind (farm, power), solar, nuclear, great british energy, emissions, climate, heat pump, electric vehicle, EVs?, decarbon, carbon capture, grid
Water and environmentwater (compan, industry, bill, quality), sewage, rivers?, nature, biodiversity, environment(al)? (protect, improv), flood, pollution, wildlife, green belt, trees
Farming and foodfarm(ers?, ing), agricultur, food, fisher(y, ies, men), livestock, bluetongue, avian influenza, bird flu
Schools and childcareschool, pupils?, teachers?, childcare, nurser(y, ies), SEND, special educational, breakfast club, curriculum, ofsted, early years, free school meals
Skills, universities and apprenticeshipsapprentic, skills, universit, higher education, further education, colleges?, students?, graduates?, T levels?
Welfare, work and pensionswelfare, benefits?, universal credit, jobcentre, PIP, disability, pension, employment rights, unemploy, back to work, youth guarantee, economic inactivity, child poverty
AI and technologyAI, artificial intelligence, tech (sector, firms?, compan, industry, giants?, businesses, start-?ups?), technolog(y, ies) (sector, firms?, compan, industry), digital (ID, identity, services?, government, economy, skills, inclusion), cyber, data centres?, semiconductor, quantum, supercomput, compute, online safety, social media, broadband, 5G, GDS
Science and researchscien(ce, tific, tists?), research, R&D, innovation, space (agency, sector, industry), space
Transportrail(way)?s?, trains?, bus(es)?, roads?, transport, aviation, airports?, HS2, potholes?, motorway, driving, drivers?, cycl(ing, e)
Trade and exportstrade (deal, agreement, talks, mission, partnership), free trade, tariffs?, exports?, exporters?, imports?, trade with
Devolution and local governmentdevolution, devolved, mayors?, mayoral, local government, (borough, county, city, district, unitary, parish, town, local) councils?, councils, council (tax, leaders?, funding, finance, services), combined authorit, strategic authorit, local authorit, levelling up, town(s)? fund, pride in place, minister for the union, strengthen(ing)? the union
Overseas aid and developmentaid, humanitarian, international development, famine, refugees?, sudan, climate finance

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